On the Richter scale of disasters the first day of the Devon Under 16s game with Cornwall was ten. Perhaps the most disappointing aspect was the loss to Dartington and Totnes of two of their key players, Hickey and Ryan Stevenson, who were kicking their heels in St Austell whilst their club failed narrowly to beat Kingsbridge in the semi-final of the Corinthian Cup at Axminster. After leaving Exeter on time and to a new vocalist - Afro Man, evidently a favourite at Ipplepen and despite cloud and drizzle en route no one anticipated the scene at St Austell where it was evident as soon as entering the ground that play looked most doubtful with the square uncovered and brown wet patches clearly visable from the car park. On disembarkation this was confirmed. Joe Smith made phone calls to his local contacts, a Swift in the making, it was confirmed no local pitch and put, the town's cinema was being refurbished, Truro's cinema fully booked but there was a bowling alley. Joe booked two lanes for 3.00pm, subsequently brought forward to two as the St Austell ladies very kindly put on an excellent lunch of ploughman's, burgers, sausages and chips followed by fruit and ice cream. Too early to book into the Travel Lodge, the Michael Vaughan press conference was listened too, only a pub with instant coffee as St Austell reminded of the old post war depressing rain hit holiday Sundays. The ten pin bowling techniques was interesting. Thoughtful skill from Hickey, success for Stevenson, shock and surprise from Tuckett, the heavy ball was bowled by Gater, the subtle one by Debenham, the competitive one, by I do not really care, Smith. Gabbitass made the most progress, Thompson, Steer and Carr made only a little if any progress at all and Ingham, Mitcham and Huxtable were inconsistent but two hours were lost and the Travel Lodge was now available. The DVD on the success of Sussex in gaining the championship in 2007 was recalled from the ECBCA Conference which featured a bonding day at a bowling alley at least everyone was still speaking after Devon's effort! It rained cats and dogs but the latter were tucked up in room 314. The Poolgooth Inn at least provided a decent end to the day, with rib eye, shark and banoffee popular and partially redeeming one of the less satisfactory days in the annals of under 16 cricket.

Devon were back at Exeter Services before lunch on the planned second day. At breakfast it was learnt that Matt Thompson was entering adolescence giving a remarkable take off of both Harry Enfield and Catherine Tate when he nearly had Devon banned from the Travel Lodge chain. Our thoughts have to be with his parents over the next year or so and he has to accept that what Mike Atherton might get away with at a five star hotel in Birmingham does not necessarily work at St.Austell. We woke to blue skies of a kind, the forecast promised much but most certainly not the persistent heavy drizzle that only left us when we crossed the Tamar. We thanked our hosts and made the second quick getaway of the season, this one for all the right reasons. Carr was despatched at Okehampton, but the plumber was late, Steer was also due to be ferried home from there but decided to stay on the bus. Luke Tuckett reminded everyone that there are still some reasonable tunes but his suggestion for the IOW festival anthem was quickly despatched to the recycle bin. For only the second time a two day Devon youth cricket match did not get started. The ground at the previous one at Exmouth had at least been adequately protected. Joe Smith’s coaching book has another new chapter to be added but he coped brilliantly with all the frustrations as indeed did the team. It was at least confirmed that the scorer’s lack of trust in inside leg measurements was fully justified as some 29” were quickly ordered. A visit to Sandford was planned but the under 14 game against Cambridgeshire had also been a victim of the 2008 summer.